
What this guide is for
From the King’s Christmas speech to Premier League finals, TV is a huge part of UK culture. With so many different packages available, you need to plan ahead to make sure you can watch the programs that matter most to you.
We’ve outlined the key differences between Freeview and premium TV, your options for TV hardware and whether you really need a TV licence to make setting up your perfect package simple.
Preparation
Getting started
Types of TV plans
There are four main TV providers in the UK:
Freeview TV: Freeview TV is free for all, but you need to have a TV licence to watch live. Channels include BBC, iTV and Channel 4
Sky: Sky is the UK’s most popular premium TV provider. Sky Atlantic shows top US dramas, while Sky sports airs the best of live sports.
Virgin Media: Virgin Media offers TV packages to their broadband customers, with huge savings available for combining broadband, TV and mobile.
Now TV: Now TV’s flexible streaming plans let you watch the live TV you can’t miss and a huge library of popular shows and movies.
The cost of a TV package can add up, especially outside of a regular contract. To keep costs down, look for the channels that matter to you. If you don’t watch kid’s TV, you don’t need a kid’s channels add-on to your plan.











